Summit, IL to Rockford, IL is 86.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It’s a fairly quick drive that shouldn't take up your entire day. Plan for a straightforward trip that primarily uses toll roads before transitioning to surface streets.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from Summit, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
51.2 mi
54m
I 290
14.5 mi
19m
1st Avenue
6.6 mi
12m
East State Street
6 mi
10m
Eisenhower Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
North Meacham Road
1.4 mi
2m
East Higgins Road
0.8 mi
1m
East Jefferson Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 51.2 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summit, IL and Rockford, IL.
1
Start on IL 171
0.2 mi·31 sec·South Archer Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto IL 171
6.6 mi·12 min·1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Harrison Street
354 ft·9 sec·Harrison Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 290 West
5
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
3.5 mi·4 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
15 mi·19 min·I 290
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 1BToward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf RoadUse the right lane.
8
Turn left onto IL 72
0.8 mi·1 min·East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto North Meacham Road
1.4 mi·2 min·North Meacham Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
51 mi·54 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward US 20 Business, State Street
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
14
Turn straight onto US 20 Business
6.0 mi·10 min·East State Street
15
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
16
Turn left onto North Wyman Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Wyman Street
17
Turn right onto West State Street
75 ft·2 sec·West State Street
18
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this trip, leaving anytime in the morning or early afternoon works well, allowing for flexibility. Since it's only about 1 hour and 52 minutes, you likely won't need many stops. However, if you do need to stretch your legs or refuel, keep in mind that the majority of the drive is on surface roads, meaning more frequent stops might be available. Watch for the transition from the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway to surface roads around 51.2 miles into your trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.4 miles from Summit, IL, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockford, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Summit, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Summit, IL
This is one driving day of about 86.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Summit, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 51.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 27.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 171 / 1st Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto IL 171 / 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7 mi into trip|~13m in|I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.5 mi into trip|~18m in|I 290
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North Toll: Rockford,...
8
25 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Ro...
6
27.6 mi into trip|~42m in
Turn left toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.24 one way
$26.48 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$14.59
$29.17
premium
$4.81
$16.42
$32.85
diesel
$5.40
$18.46
$36.93
Estimated Tolls: $3.58
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(51.2 mi)$3.58
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Summit, IL
Late night
in Summit on Sunday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
ENE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Rockford, IL
Late night
in Rockford on Sunday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 9:27PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 21% of the route on highways. You'll spend the longest stretch, 51.2 miles, on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a lot of exits and merges as you navigate through more developed areas before reaching Rockford.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.2 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 171 / 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (IL 171 / 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (I 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Summit, IL to Rockford, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.2 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.58 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rockford, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (IL 171 / 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (I 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rockford, IL before heading back.
